Lexical Summary eleusis: Coming, arrival Original Word: ἔλευσις Strong's Exhaustive Concordance coming. From the alternate of erchomai; an advent -- coming. see GREEK erchomai NAS Exhaustive Concordance Word Originfrom alt. of erchomai Definition a coming NASB Translation coming (1). Thayer's Greek Lexicon STRONGS NT 1660: ἔλευσιςἔλευσις, ἐλεύσεως, ἡ (ἔρχομαι), a coming, advent (Dionysius Halicarnassus 3, 59): Acts 7:52. (ἐν τῇ ἐλευσει αὐτοῦ, i. e. of Christ, καί ἐπιφάνεια τῇ ὑστέρα, Act. Thom. 28; plural αἱ ἐλευσεις, of the first and the second coming of Christ to earth, Irenaeus 1, 10.) Topical Lexicon Definition and Scope Strong’s Greek 1660 denotes an expected appearance or arrival, emphasizing the decisive moment when one foretold finally stands in the midst of those awaiting Him. Scripture employs the term once—Acts 7:52—to summarize the long-held prophetic hope that culminates in Jesus Christ. Biblical Context Stephen, addressing the Sanhedrin, indicts Israel for rejecting God’s messengers: “They killed those who foretold the coming of the Righteous One, and now you have betrayed and murdered Him—” (Acts 7:52). The single use of 1660 thus gathers the full weight of prophetic anticipation into one scene. Every Old Testament promise of divine visitation—whether voiced by Moses (Deuteronomy 18:15), David (Psalm 110:1), or Isaiah (Isaiah 9:6)—is summed up in the “coming” that Stephen declares fulfilled in Jesus. Intertestamental Expectations Second-Temple Judaism cultivated intense longing for God to intervene in history. Works such as the Psalms of Solomon speak of a Messiah who would “gather a holy people.” This backdrop heightens Stephen’s accusation: those longing for deliverance failed to recognize its realization when it arrived. Messianic Fulfillment The New Testament enlarges the thought of 1660 in three trajectories: 1. First Advent—Jesus embodies the promised arrival. “The Word became flesh and dwelt among us” (John 1:14). Stephen’s wording—“the Righteous One”—links Isaiah 53:11, “My righteous Servant,” with the Nazarene standing before the council. Thus 1660 functions as a bridge: prophecy to fulfillment, promise to presence. Theological Implications • Continuity of Revelation: The singular “coming” harmonizes Law, Prophets, and Gospel, underscoring Scripture’s unified witness to Christ (Luke 24:27). Historical Reception Early Christian preaching often echoed Stephen’s structure—tracing redemptive history to Jesus’ arrival (Acts 13:23-41; 1 Peter 1:10-12). Church fathers such as Justin Martyr appealed to fulfilled “comings” to defend the faith before Jewish and pagan audiences, asserting that what prophets announced has materialized in Christ. Practical Ministry Applications 1. Evangelism: Present the gospel as God’s long-promised visitation; unbelief is not a lack of data but a moral refusal of the Righteous One already come. Related Biblical Themes • Visitation (Genesis 50:24-25; Luke 1:68) Conclusion Though occurring only once in the Greek New Testament, Strong’s 1660 captures the heartbeat of redemptive history: God’s promised arrival in the person of Jesus Christ. Past fulfilled, present experienced, and future anticipated—His coming defines the church’s message, mission, and hope. Forms and Transliterations ελευσεως ελεύσεως ἐλεύσεως eleuseos eleuseōs eleúseos eleúseōsLinks Interlinear Greek • Interlinear Hebrew • Strong's Numbers • Englishman's Greek Concordance • Englishman's Hebrew Concordance • Parallel Texts |
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